While the plans are temporarily on hold, a new proposal is currently being worked on to fill a vacant store space in Menemsha with a new general store.
William Seward and his wife Michelle Seward want to buy the building at 10 Basin Road in Menemsha – the former Menemsha Deli – to open their business there.
The plan, Seward said, is to open a small store that could resemble his parents’ store, which was previously across the street from The Homeport in Menemsha. He said the new general store will also incorporate elements of the former deli.
According to the Common Victualler’s license application document, plans include offering “everyday groceries and supplies for the boaters and local residents” as well as “simple breakfast foods and coffee beverages for the morning patrons, grab-and-go lunches for the afternoon patrons, and picnic baskets for the sunset patrons.” The overview in the document lists a market, paper goods, basic health products, packaged candy, and beach gear as included in the store.
Although Seward said he and his wife were forced to back out of the sale of the property late last week, they still hope to open next year.
Seward said there have been complications in getting a lease on the property, which he does not yet have. “We have tried to negotiate a solution and we are still trying,” he said.
Since he currently has neither a lease nor control of the space, Seward said it would not be a responsible decision to move forward with the plans. “I just couldn’t move forward in good faith with the city,” he said, “knowing I wasn’t settling down.”
A public hearing on plans for the property was scheduled during Tuesday night’s Chilmark Select Board meeting, but it was postponed. Chilmark Town Manager Tim Carroll said it has not been decided when the public hearing will be rescheduled. He said the sale of the property is currently pending.
Seward said he expects things to be resolved in the next few months, and hopefully they can reapply for the property then. “The whole idea was to try to open in 2025,” he said.
“We’re still trying to negotiate something,” Seward said of the delays. “Nothing has been finalized yet.”
